feathers not growing since Feb

[DrSeusschickens]

My poor hens seem to be eating their feathers and then in the search for protein to grow them back eat more feathers and thus created a loop. They began losing feathers in February because of my rooster so we got rid of him but haven’t regrown any feathers and now they are eating each other and themselves. I’ve tried giving them higher protein food and give them mealworms often and even cat food for the really bald ones but nothing is working. Any ideas for how I can get them to stop so the new feathers can grow in?

Also they aren’t in molt yet and have not stopped laying.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Don't worry. Overtime they'll eventually go into a molt. Maybe try leaving them in a dark room for awhile? Saddles would of been helpful around the rooster.

My first thought when I saw the picture: Typical Red Sex Link look. Mine always look that way when I got a rooster.

 

[Eggcessive]

Their feathers will not grow back until they molt. But feather picking can be a bad learned habit. How much room do they have? What do you feed them? Overcrowding, boredom if not getting outside to free range, and not enough protein in the diet can all lead to feather picking. If they start pecking around the vents, that can lead to cannibalism.

 

[DrSeusschickens]

Their feathers will not grow back until they molt. But feather picking can be a bad learned habit. How much room do they have? What do you feed them? Overcrowding, boredom if not getting outside to free range, and not enough protein in the diet can all lead to feather picking. If they start pecking around the vents, that can lead to cannibalism.

They’ve got lots of room in the coop and their run. They’re free range whenever I’m home. And they’ve been eating 16% layer pellets along with high protein scratch and mealworms. I guess they’ll just look pretty ratty for a while.

 

[DrSeusschickens]

Don't worry. Overtime they'll eventually go into a molt. Maybe try leaving them in a dark room for awhile? Saddles would of been helpful around the rooster.

My first thought when I saw the picture: Typical Red Sex Link look. Mine always look that way when I got a rooster.

Oh good! I just feel bad because they look so awful but they’re very happy girls otherwise

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Oh good! I just feel bad because they look so awful but they’re very happy girls otherwise

Yeah, it's always a sad sight to see when they look like that, but when they shake, it's almost a comedy relief. When they look like that and shake, their whole body rattles, and they almost look like they're going to fall over. XD Don't know why that strikes me funny, but it does.

 

[DrSeusschickens]

Yeah, it's always a sad sight to see when they look like that, but when they shake, it's almost a comedy relief. When they look like that and shake, their whole body rattles, and they almost look like they're going to fall over. XD Don't know why that strikes me funny, but it does.

Very true haha!